Weekly Tip 98 - Sustainable Paint – Paint Your House Green
Spring is just around the corner and lots of people spring clean and redecorate but when decorating, have you ever considered sustainable paint?
Unfortunately, not all paint is good for the environment and if you look back to the 1970s, paint even had lead in it, causing all sorts of issues.
To help you make more informed decisions and raise your awareness of the environmental impacts of everyday things, our weekly tip is just for you!
So, without further ado, here is your 98th weekly tip focusing on paint and how to make your choices more sustainable.
The History of Paint
The use of paint for home decoration has a long history, dating back to prehistoric times when early humans used paint to decorate cave walls.
In fact, the earliest cave paintings are believed to be 64,000 years old! That’s a long history of decorating our homes!
Throughout the centuries, many civilizations have used paint to enhance the aesthetic of their homes, from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Whilst in the past the use of paint was reserved for the wealthy, with the advent of mass production following the industrial revolution, paint is now cheap and widely available.
Today, paint remains a popular choice for homeowners looking to enhance their living spaces and the choices available are mind-boggling.
Paint is used globally and as with any global consumer product, there is an environmental impact meaning, not all paint is sustainable paint.
Read on to find out more.
Why Not All Paint Is Sustainable Paint
Did you know that in the UK alone, an estimated 50 million litres of paint goes to waste and only 27 % of it is recycled?
Paint has numerous environmental impacts, starting from its production and ending with its disposal.
During production, paint manufacturers use various chemicals and materials, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Unfortunately, these contribute to breathing issues, air pollution and the production of ozone.
Chemicals can also end up in waterways during manufacturing.
Additionally, producing paint requires large amounts of energy and water, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and increased water usage.
Paint waste is also a significant environmental concern, as old paint cans and leftover paint can be difficult to dispose of properly and can pose hazards to wildlife and the environment.
Improper disposal of paint can lead to the release of harmful chemicals into the soil and water, affecting ecosystems and wildlife.
So, you can see not all paint is sustainable. Read on to find out how to paint sustainably.
How to Make Your Painting Sustainable
One of the key ways to paint more sustainably is to choose low-VOC or zero-VOC paints.
Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints emit fewer harmful chemicals, making them a better option for the environment and human health.
Another way to paint more sustainably is to properly prepare surfaces before painting.
This means filling in cracks, sanding down rough spots, and cleaning surfaces to ensure a smooth, even finish.
Doing so reduces the amount of paint required, minimizing waste and reducing the overall environmental impact.
Also, using brushes and rollers instead of spray cans can help you to paint more sustainably.
Spray cans are convenient but tend to use more paint and release more VOCs into the air.
When it comes to disposing of leftover paint and old paint cans, it’s important to take these items to a proper disposal facility.
Furthermore, donating unused paint to community organisations can help reduce your paint waste once you have finished decorating.
It will also mean your painting is not only more sustainable, but has a positive social impact too!
Some Sustainable Paint Brands We Love
Now you know a bit more about the environmental impact of paint and how to be more sustainable with it, you probably want to buy a sustainable brand.
Below are three of our favourite sustainable paint brands to take the pain out of your search and as always there is a discount to save you money.
Graphenstone
Graphenstone paint is unique and actively improves air quality by absorbing CO2 with the help of its organic lime in its formula.
On top of that, it is almost entirely free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
In order to put things into perspective, three 15-litre cans will absorb as much CO2 in a year as a fully developed tree.
Additionally, all of the plastic used to make its pots is recycled and recyclable.
If you want to check out this unique and sustainable paint, simply head over to their site using the link <here>.
COAT
From day one, COAT paints was built with a conscience with decisions made that they could stand by.
Today COAT is one of the UK’s first BCORP paint and decorating providers.
Their eco-formulations, eco-packaging, sustainable logistics and transparent business model means you are buying a product you can trust.
By buying COAT sustainable paints you are helping to take vehicles off the road, reduce waste and prioritise sustainable materials.
You can browse COAT sustainable paint range <here>.
Little Greene
Little Greene’s paint tins are made from 50% recycled steel and can be recycled once you’re done with them.
Its water-based paints have the lowest eco-rating in the industry, with almost no VOCs.
Not only that, but Little Greene was one of the first paint manufacturers in the United Kingdom to achieve the European environmental standard BS EN ISO 14001.
Little Greene is a family-run business with their own factory in Wales and since 2018 has partnered with the National Trust.
You can see their amazing range of sustainable paints <here>.
That's All For Sustainable Paint
That’s it for this week, but if you are looking for some sustainable paint, you can’t go wrong with one of the brands above.
Best of all, if you head over to Brewers Paints and sign up for an account, you can get 20% off your first order.
You can buy Little Greene paint at Brewers by heading <here>.
Play It Green
Play It Green is a subscription service that helps people and businesses to take a journey of sustainability.
Through our 3-step solution, we support footprint reduction, repairing the planet (through reforestation) and increasing social impact by regiving 10% of turnover to charity.
That’s a lot of positive impact for £5 per person per month and more value than a coffee and a piece of cake!
You can use the button below to sign up!
